This morning's commute and other commuting stories

Another classic bit of aggro on the commute. Otherwise sunny, endorphin release, reducing risk of heart disease/10.

Descending a hill in primary. Round here there are cars parked in the cycle lane for long bits of it. Further down it's just a mess of junctions, zebra crossings and other road narrowing features. Easily doing 20-25mph in a 30mph zone. Three car lengths between me and bus in front.

Geezer with two young kids in the car beeps at me about half-way down. My default reaction is always to gently stop and give them an expectant look. Mainly to avoid going off if it's a safety/dropped your wallet type thing!

Obviously it's like every other time I've pulled up. He doesn't like me being in primary. Gets out of the car, starts jabbering about the cycle lane and how I should use it.

I try to get a word in but he's obviously seeing red mist and just carries on shouting. Ends with: "Get out of my way or I'll run you over".

Against better advice from the forum, I invite him to do so with open arms. He gets in and revs.

End of confrontation, point made. So I move into the cycle lane, which makes sense now I've lost all that momentum. Little princess in front seat pats daddy as if to say well done or, please calm down.

Would anyone else play that differently? I always keep it civil and try to explain that being in primary is a defensive move. Just refuse to cower in the gutter anymore. But still, no D-Locks for me.

Poor children :/

I tend to use bike lanes even when they are a bit shit for exactly this reason.

Is almost impossible to convey to someone that hasn’t cycled since they were a kid why riding in the main carriageway might be preferable.

"Learn the fucking highway code you cunt!"
"Learn the fucking highway code you cunt!"
"Learn the fucking highway code you cunt!"
"Learn the fucking highway code you cunt!"
"Learn the fucking highway code you cunt!"
"Learn the fucking highway code you cunt!"
"Learn the fucking highway code you cunt!"
"Learn the fucking highway code you cunt!"
"Learn the fucking highway code you cunt!"
"Learn the fucking highway code you cunt!"
"Learn the fucking highway code you cunt!"
"Learn the fucking highway code you cunt!"

Works for me.

Personally I wouldn't have slowed and stopped, I would have just kept pace with the bus and moved to the left when it was safe to do so. Drivers need to realise you are in primary for a reason, not just to piss them off.

You're on a bike, you're slowing me down, your life ain't worth shit to me.

#babyonboardsticker

Fucker should be reported to social services. How long before he starts taking his frustrations out on his girls?

I might start doing the same to every car that slows me down.

How many wing mirrors do you reckon a single commute would yield?

They may be the cause if my one is anything to go by. jk.

Really appreciate the replies! All options appeal to parts of my brain. Mad that those kids had to witness their dad doing that. But then if they've been taught that's a reasonable way to behave to another person....

@Jimmy_Fingers is probably most sensible. By staying in primary I'd continue to protect myself from the original hazards. Moving back across when safe to do so would defuse the situation and my journey won't have been disrupted. Although most times they still roll down the window and scream abuse.

Back in to town for a late one. Going via the sketchy river path. Reaching for my Smith and Wesson like

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Primary, primary, primary.
Had a similar issue with dad going off on one after he pulled out on me only stopped when I asked him if he really wanted to punch my lights out in front of his kids who were looking out of the rear window.
It’s us today, it’ll be his wife or kids tomorrow I fear.

My commute includes long stretches of parked cars along either side of the road, meaning if you take primary either cars behind have to wait for you to move back over to the left to get past.
Most drivers wait, but some get antsy, I’ve taken to rolling up to them when you get to the lights and explaining that I’m leaving a doors width between me and the parked cars like they were taught when learning to drive.
Sometimes it makes them think, others it’s just an excuse for them to vent.
Also find when driving giving as much space as possible when overtaking cyclists and being super patient when following a cyclist on narrow roads, whether they are in primary or not, so you show a good example to the drivers behind means they give them plenty of space and time in the overtake as well..

Ride past a school at kickout time, so going pretty slow anyway get past the main throng of kids and parents just opening doors without looking. Start to pick up the speed a bit noticed a lady and her three kids about 150 metres up ahead she seems to be chatting to someone across the road. No indication that they were going to cross getting closer so move over to the right a bit getting close low and behind she looks towards me and then sends her kids running out over to the person on the other side, miss the smallest one by inches so glad she didn't run back to mum. Why she clearly saw me. The mind boggles

Dude, today's commute orz

A white BMW, angry at me for riding in the primary position even though there was a giant green
fucking "sharrow" that I was riding directly over sped by me honking and brushing my sleeve with his dumb car. It was even a fucking 4 lane street and the lane next to me was empty. It has been hours and I am still mad.

Then, a little later, I had to dodge a dude on an electric monowheel thing who was wobbling around while smoking a vape. He also had a neckbeard so I guess he was going for the trifecta. I almost respect his hustle.

EDIT: I just realized that he did not have a fedora but instead a skate helmet. He should have had one of those fedora helmets (m'cyclist). I am sure he was one of those fedora helmets.

I have a short stretch of one way, about 300 yards, with parked cars lining both sides for the entirety of it. Single lane left, I always take primary and regularly get beeps and then angry shouts at the end when they are alongside.

Strange they have time for an argument but not for a cyclist to ride a 300 yard road for about twenty seconds.

The other irony is that I’m not the one blocking them. Without parked cars that road would be three lanes wide. Imagine a world without parked cars on the road. They are a fucking pox on humanity

Cars generally, not just the parked ones.

Motor vehicles and the combustion engine, to be specific.

And ear hair post 30

Plodding home, caught up with mtb'r, they're on the new commute home. Cycled alongside for a bit, she begins whinging about catching a speeding ticket recently while driving down the road where I live (camera van parks real near us quite often.) Ha Ha Haaaaa Ha ha ha ha. Fucker. Hope it was a big fine. Careless wanker.

Agreed. The ear hair I had in my 20s was glorious.

I ride home from the pub like a maniac and still only averaged 15 mph. Hoe street/10

Edit: 14.5

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Otherwise nice commute was tarnished by the fact my blike has developed an insanely annoying clicking sound.

Spotted this all on one street, looks like someone’s been on a rampage:

Been fuuuuucking windy. Pretty fun with the kuota+fourspoke. Not so fun with a heavy bag on the way home. Took a really nice detour tripling my normal commute to collect the Cannondale jacket.

Must say, I have found many drivers less arsey recently. But I also feel bad for the big bag tapping the van wingmirror during an ill-judged filter between it and a caravan. I commited and had little choice but to go forward or risk pancaking. Raised my hand in apology though, that's like the highway code for anything up to GBH now right?

I also feel bad for the big bag tapping the van wingmirror during an ill-judged filter between it and a caravan.

I did exactly this the other day. The van driver just shrugged and said 'shit happens, could you line it up again for me please mate?'

surprisingly mellow/10